The Joy of Detoxing: Miracles Can Happen

My mom went through a three year detox.  When I first started health coaching her my mom was very sick with an aggressive form of cancer and other health problems and was heavily medicated taking 13 or 14 different medications.  She complained of the worst kinds of body aches and pains, pains even worse than labor pains.

My family and I have seen her in and out of hospitals.  We were with her during some critical, close calls as well.

I am incredibly proud of her!  As of December 2019 my mom no longer takes any kind of prescription medication.  She’s no longer diabetic and her cholesterol levels are normal.  

My mom was on Lipitor for 20 years and was on diabetes medication for more than 20 years.

Today she’s able to do things she couldn’t do before.  She’s even able to travel to the other side of the world. She’s so much more healthier, vibrant and energetic than ever before.

Going from 13 or 14 different medications to zero medications is truly a miracle.  Thanks be to God!

If you’re looking to detox this year now is the time.  The Joy of Detoxing launches this Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in time for Lent.  Check out the details at http://diostiagngina.com/favorites/the-joy-of-detoxing.

If my mom can do it you can do it!  What’s holding you back from becoming your healthiest, happiest and most brilliant self?

The Joy of Detoxing: Detoxing with a Good and Experienced Health Coach

It makes all the difference in the world.

Most people need to be under the guidance of an experienced and certified health coach or wellness practitioner when they decide to make dietary changes. Why? It’s smarter and safer and people usually get the results they are looking for. When people go on some type of diet, cleanse or detox, they end up following a yo-yo pattern. They’ll starve themselves with shakes and a whole bunch of supplements and then after the program they “reward” themselves by eating poorly again gaining the weight that they lost plus adding even more pounds. This treatment on the body is downright abuse.

When people realize how sick they really are they might think that doing a detox is the answer. A detox is not always the best solution. You have to get to the root cause. If you’re already deficient and you go on a detox you’re just going to keep dragging and become even weaker.

I explained this to a friend last night who is dealing with chronic fatigue. She recently went on a detox, felt great and lost a good amount of weight afterwards but eventually feels tired again and gained the weight back.

Another friend that I’ve been health coaching told me a while back, “I am afraid.” I told her that she needed to face her fears even though it may be difficult and painful. If you don’t then nothing will change. People choose to escape their reality in different ways. One way is through food. Many people are eating all kinds of junk that causes them to be fearful, weak, and sick. The junk that people eat on a daily basis is not fit for human consumption. When you start eating real, clean, organic food everything changes for the better. Your body, heart, and soul change for the better.

The Joy of Detoxing starts this Wednesday, February 26, 2020. There are three detoxes that I will be discussing in the video modules in all levels - easy, medium, and challenging. In the program I will explain how each one is done. You choose which plan you are comfortable with. For the 45 day detox I will guide you through the program with exact specifics and offer delicious healthy recipes to be cooked at home. To join me click here: http://diostiagngina.com/favorites/the-joy-of-detoxing

If you are dealing with chronic or debilitating fatigue The Joy of Detoxing is NOT for your condition. At least not at the present time. I recommend one on one health coaching sessions to address the issues that are causing the fatigue. You can check out my program here: http://diostiagngina.com/favorites/1-month-coaching-program.

What if now was the time to really listen to your body and to finally get your health in check and possibly be your healthiest and happiest self? 

The Joy of Sleep: A Tale of Two Grandmas and a Papa

I can’t remember when my mom started having sleep problems but it had been decades.  In recent years she would complain about all kinds of problems including trigeminal neuralgia, leg cramps, and neuropathy in the feet.  These issues caused her difficulty at night and interfered with her sleep.  

Last May my mom and dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. I gave them one of my favorite natural sleeping aids.  The following day they both reported good restful sleep.  My mom eventually noticed that she wasn’t suffering from leg cramps anymore.  

In June I gave them another natural sleeping aid.  In two weeks time I got a call from my mom.  She detailed all the positive changes.  She said both her and my dad’s energy levels and stamina increased.  They both felt a lot better and their sleep improved.  My mom said that she even started having vivid dreams.  

When people can remember their dreams that means that they are getting really good deep sleep.  When that happens the body can do what it’s supposed to do.  It starts to heal.

Since using the natural sleep solutions my mom hasn’t been suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, leg cramps, and neuropathy in the feet.  Both she and my dad no longer complain about aches, pains or lack of sleep. What else is possible?

Last November my family and I visited my mother in law in the Philippines.  We love to bring gifts when we visit her so we decided to bring the same natural sleep aids that helped my mom and dad with sleep.

The amazing thing was that the sleep aids worked immediately!  The next morning my mother in law told me that she wasn’t bothered by leg cramps and that she was able to sleep well.  

I thought to monitor her sleep since we were staying for two weeks.  Each day she revealed that there were no leg cramps and that she could sleep well.  Even if she had to wake up in the middle of the night she was able to go back to sleep fairly quickly and sleep soundly.  Before it would take her a while to go back to sleep. How does it get any better than that?

The special promo price for The Joy of Sleep is coming to a close.  After Sunday the price will jump to $99. What are the possibilities to finally experience the deep sound sleep you and your loved ones have been waiting for?  

Being able to help our parents feel more comfortable with more ease in their elder years is truly a blessing.  Thanks be to God for natural effective and simple sleep solutions.

The Joy of Sleep: Let's Talk About Snoring

A few years ago my son and I were video chatting with my dad. After several minutes we saw my dad fall asleep sitting up.  And then he started to snore.  

My husband also used to snore.  That meant that I too had trouble sleeping because the snoring would bother me.  

The fact of the matter is when someone in the family snores sleep quality gets disturbed all around. Everyone’s sleep gets affected.

Snoring is the body’s way of saying that the body is not happy and it is not being honored.  It means that the body is struggling to get good quality restful sleep.  But most people just ignore the issue and don’t think anything of it.

Recent studies show that poor sleep is linked to the following:

~ Memory issues

~ Weight gain

~ Mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder

~ Weakened immunity

~ Higher chances of cancer, diabetes and heart disease

~ Being accident-prone

~ Stress in relationships

~ Shortened life expectancies

After I started health coaching my dad and husband everyone’s sleep started to improve and my dad and husband stopped snoring.  

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  

What changed?  They started following my recommendations and more importantly they started honoring their bodies.

What would it take for us to just start honoring our beautiful bodies every single day?  

What changes and possibilities can take place?

A friend and client messaged me a couple of days ago.  He’s been using three of my five favorite sleep solutions.  He said, “I’ll continue with the recommendations. It is helping me a lot!  I observed my sleep is more deep.”  And this is the result of following my protocol the last couple of weeks.

Getting messages like this make my day!  And I just feel like singing, “Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!”

The Joy of Sleep is now available at a special promo price in celebration of the new year.  It may not cost a lot but from my interesting point of view the program is priceless.  Getting good restful sleep is the foundation of good health.  

How does it get any better than that?

The Colors of Fall

Isn't this pasta gorgeous? I got this from Williams Sonoma. It's all organic, all natural without the fake artificial colors or flavors and it's made in Italy.

I love that it's from Italy because glyphosate is illegal there. What's glyphosate? It's poison and it causes cancer. It's in Roundup and in many of the foods in our local grocery stores.

This meal is loaded with organic mushrooms specifically cremini and shiitake. Mushrooms are super awesome because they make cancer cells commit suicide. How does it get better than that?!

If you don't like the texture of mushrooms, there are a number of alternatives to get the anticancer benefits. Mushroom teas, mushroom powders, and mushroom vitamins are all available. Organic is best.

Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Sauce by Giada

1 lb rigatoni pasta (if gluten free I like to use Jovial brand, penne, it's made in Italy)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb assorted mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, button) cleaned and sliced
1/2 cup white wine (I just use about 1 or 2 tbsp)
1/2 cup vegetable, mushroom, or chicken stock (homemade is best)
1 cups (8 oz) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives (I use Italian flat parsley a lot)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook till tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. While the pasta is cooking heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook till soft about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook till mushrooms are tender stirring occasionally about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the heat to high. Add the wine and cook for 3 minutes till all the liquid evaporates. Add the stock and simmer till liquid is slightly reduced. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the mascarpone cheese. Stir till creamy. Drain the pasta reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the mushroom mixture and the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss well to coat pasta adding the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the chopped chives. Serve immediately.

William and Mary: The Nation's Suicide Capital?

A family friend encouraged me to attend the College of William and Mary because of its prestige, rich history, and rigorous programs. I was enamored by that as well as motivated in getting my parents and family to be proud of me. William and Mary is the oldest university in the United States and it still ranks as one of the top universities in the country (ranked # 38 in 2019 according to U.S. News and World Report).

I attended the College of William and Mary from 1994 and 1998 and had a wonderful learning and social experience. I had my share of academic lows but I sucked it up and persevered. However, during my time there the Alma Mater of a Nation was also known as the nation’s suicide capital. It seemed that toward the end of every semester my roommate and I would find a letter slipped under the door of our dorm room. Each letter addressed to William and Mary faculty and student body announced the tragic death of a student. I seem to recall that the reason for at least two of those deaths was suicide.

September is Suicide Awareness Month. My son and I along with other Access Bars practitioners worldwide will be offering free Access Bars sessions to those interested in looking for change, hope and possibility. Everyone is welcome to try it out. Absolutely, getting a Bars session can help those with deep depression, suicidal thoughts, addictions, PTSD, trauma (happening now or from years back) and other struggles and blocks.

I have been an integrative nutrition health coach since 2016. I know for certain that food is medicine but I can honestly say that Access Bars changes people’s lives for the better and so quickly. There is nothing like it. It is without a doubt the best holistic modality that I’ve come across in healing on all levels - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. How does it get any better than that?

Sharing is caring, friends! So please share. Let’s help make this a happier and healthier world. Let’s help everyone get to the root cause of their struggles. Access Bars can save lives. (Direct message me with any questions.)

For more information about Access Bars go to www.accessconsciousness.com. To find a list of practitioners participating in free clinics around the world for Suicide Awareness Month go to www.accessconsciousness.com/suicideawareness.

How To Get Off Your Meds

Last night I got a call from my mom. She said, "I saw my doctor today." I paused and asked, "What's wrong?" She said, "My doctor gave me a clean bill of health!" I said, "That's good, Mom." I asked her, "How are your cholesterol levels?" She said, "They're good. They're normal. My doctor was so surprised. He couldn't believe it!"

My mom had been on Lipitor for over twenty years. I urged her five months ago to get off Lipitor and there's a good reason for that. She did what I suggested and now her cholesterol levels are good. 

My mom's a very smart woman. In the last few years she's been really listening to her body. Second, she has a good holistic health coach. That would be me. And she follows my advice. If she has questions she calls me up. We talk and I make suggestions. But I always tell her that she's the one that knows her body best.

If you want to get off your medications get with a good holistic health coach or wellness practitioner. That's really how it's done because most people aren't able to heal on their own. They need someone who's been there and/or who has the knowledge and experience in helping others to heal.

My mom's doctor's response is a funny one. Yes, it is possible to reverse disease and get off medications. It's really very simple. But if you're content taking all of your medications just keep doing the same old same old.

17 Year Old Diagnosed With Fatty Liver

Over the weekend my family and I visited some good friends in our old stomping ground. My friend was telling me that she had decided to get a blood panel done on December 31 for all three of her teenagers. She was frightened for her oldest child. The doctor reviewed his liver test results and told her son that 70 is within normal range. His levels were off the charts at 270. He diagnosed him with fatty liver and said that he needed to change his diet pronto. The boy was very scared after hearing this. My friend had told me years back that the only food that her eldest would eat was chicken and he never ate vegetables. So he started eating less fatty foods and more vegetables. He tried spinach, lettuce, carrots, and cabbage but didn’t like those so well. He ate them anyway. Surprisingly he learned that he liked kale. On top of that he lost about ten pounds from the long hours of dress rehearsals and dance practices for his high school production. Recently he got tested again. He still has fatty liver but his levels are not as high. He surprised the doctor and is still determined to get healthier.

Why are we waiting till there’s a health issue to teach our children proper nutrition? Why are we waiting for a health scare to happen? The truth of the matter is that the parents aren’t eating healthy so the children aren’t eating healthy. The end result is sickness. Doctors aren’t trained in nutrition. They barely have time to eat healthy themselves with their demanding schedules and the number of sick patients waiting in the waiting room.

In ancient China if the doctor was not able to help a patient heal the patient was NOT obligated to pay the doctor. Umm, hello? Our society has it all backwards. Patients continue to look to conventional medicine and accept everything that they are told. They’re told that they have to have their thyroid radiated and so they take thyroid meds for the rest of their lives. They’re told that they need to be on high blood pressure medication for the rest of their lives despite the dangerous side effects. They’re told that they need to be sliced open to remove a part of their intestines. They’re told that there’s no cure for this disease and that disease. They’re told there are no other options whatsoever. All lies. And the people get sicker and sicker every day.

If only people started to question, think for themselves, and get with a good health coach or wellness practitioner to get to the root cause of their condition people would have less health problems and be less dependent on Big Pharma. Because people need the help. They need to learn preventative medicine, which is taught by health coaches, in order to heal. Preventative medicine is the best way to prevent disease. Well maybe it takes a whack on the head and a real health scare for people to start realizing the lies they’re being told every single day.

Yup, my friend’s son is seventeen years old and has fatty liver disease. True SAD story.

The Body Never Lies

My dad retired from the Navy in the summer of 1986 when I was ten years old. From that point my dad prepared the breakfasts. I remember hearing sounds in the kitchen first thing in the morning. I heard the sound of my mom’s Salad Master pans being placed on the stove. I remember the sound of eggs sizzling on the pan and the scent of freshly brewed coffee. And I can still hear the sound of my dad sneezing incessantly echoing throughout the house. One time I counted. He sneezed at least twenty times without pause.

I remember my first autumn in Central New York. Our neighbors invited us over for a bonfire party. They had wine and beer and I was offered a pinot noir. I remember having two and a half glasses. Well, that tipped my alcohol limit. The next day I didn’t feel so well. The alcohol was indeed poison. I believed that I had cold-like symptoms so I treated the symptoms with natural herbal and food remedies. After a while I thought it was strange that I wasn’t getting any better. Then finally after two weeks I realized that I didn’t have a cold. I had allergies. The alcohol was poisonous to my system which triggered an autoimmune response and an imbalance in my body which caused my allergy symptoms. So I made myself the proper natural remedies and in three days I was all better.

The body never lies. It is that smart. It gives us signs all the time but we refuse to listen. When someone sneezes uncontrollably the body is actually alerting us and screaming, “Help! Help!” But instead we succumb to our pitiful existence and do nothing to change our diets and bad habits.

No, it’s not normal to be sneezing twenty to thirty times straight. It’s not normal to have to wipe a runny nose ever. We try to shush our bodies with alcohol, cigarettes, prescription medications, over the counter drugs like Benadryl or NyQuil but as I’ve mentioned the body never lies. And you can never cover up the lies.

Spring, Sneezing, And Allergies

I’ve always loved spring.  To me I’ve always associated it with hope, love, and beauty.  I love the new flowers that start to pop up and the green blades of grass. When I start to see dandelions I know that spring has arrived.

In my elementary school years I was pretty healthy.  I hardly ever got sick or missed school.  My brother on the other hand suffered from asthma and allergies.  My dad used to joke that he was allergic to everything except girls.  

When I worked in the corporate world I noticed that I was getting sick all the time so I scheduled doctor appointments frequently.  I remember going every week for about a month.  Each time I visited the doctor he’d give me some Claritin.  I eventually figured out that the Claritin did nothing for me and that it was the stress from work and my poor diet that was causing my allergies.  When I left the corporate world and fixed my diet my allergies went away.

When someone suffers from allergies it’s a gut issue or an autoimmune condition. I’ve seen it and studied it many times.  Whether it’s environmental or food allergies anyone can heal them.  I’ve been advocating the solution for some time now.  Eat organic, local, and seasonal.

Not everyone understands the concept of eating local and seasonal.  It’s pretty simple.  If something doesn’t grow in your area don’t eat it or don’t eat it all the time. People don’t understand this idea because we have access to foods from all over the world in grocery stores.  I live in New York but bananas don’t grow here.  I rarely eat bananas because they're not part of my environment and they won’t strengthen my microbiome.   

This is why I’m big into CSAs and I believe this is the reason why my immune system over the last three years has improved immensely.  Before I moved to New York my gut health was not its best.  I had just gone through a few traumatic years of health problems.  I was so weak and so vitamin deficient I thought that I was dying.  

People don’t have to suffer.  People don’t have to accept a sick body.  Get with a certified health coach or wellness practitioner.  Run past the fear and trust the process because this process that I and many others teach really does work.

Health Coaching For Humanity

I recently had the privilege to interview IIN health coach, naturopath, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, Dr. Mary Jean Netario Cruz or Dr. Maggie, for Health Coach Week.  I admire her for so many reasons including her charisma, dedication and work in the health and wellness field, empowering marginalized communities,  interceding in times of local and national disaster and crisis, and her ability to heal and touch the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.  

Dr.  Maggie has received accolades by top magnesium authorities and scientists for her research and work and her Magiteque therapy.  

• Dr. Carolyn Dean MD, ND, the world renowned magnesium expert and author of The Magnesium Miracle called her "The Magnesium Maven."  She has also noted that Dr. Maggie is the only one that she knows who does magnesium therapy in a clinical setting.
   
• Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT said Dr. Maggie is a "co-warrior in the field of organic sulfur."

What is the importance of all of this?  It actually matters plenty.  According to Dr. Maggie, she has seen results with her Magiteque therapy for pain management, viral infections, dengue, influenza, measles, chicken pox, postherpatic neuralgia, shingles, herpes, ESRD for dialysis, enlarged thyroid, mental health conditions, comatose, eczema and other skin problems, dementia, Parkinson's disease, mental health issues, and tumors, paralysis, seizure, central nervous system issues, and much more.

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A Conversation With Dr. Maggie

How did you become so passionate about health and wellness?

I am an accidental health coach!  Prior to this journey, I was a business consultant who did business automation, business systems and controls, and business software distribution until I found myself wanting to help empower disenfranchised communities. I earned an IIN scholarship because I connected an indigenous peoples organic farming project to a healthy meals school project.

What has been your greatest achievement as a health coach and as a naturopath doctor? 
 

Prior to becoming a health coach, I had no idea what it was.  Initially I thought it was a way to learn more about nutrition in a non-traditional setting.  As I began studying I realized it was more similar to consulting in the health realm.  I am more interested in helping disenfranchised communities so I focused my health coaching skills on community pain healing missions in remote and poor places.  I have also provided assistance whenever there is a disaster, like when the Philippines was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), and more recently in the Marawi siege. Helping the displaced peoples in Marawi is probably one of my greatest successes.  The protocols I developed for people suffering from PTSD was adapted by Mindanao State University, Iligan Medical School Foundation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines among others.

What are the challenges of being a health coach in the Philippines?
 

I am not a typical health coach.  I focus more on addressing health-related social issues, particularly pain management for the mind, body and spirit – a “human system approach” for poor communities.  Currently my private practice and the contributions of wealthy individuals and organizations fund this initiative, but continuing to fund community healing missions is my biggest challenge.

I am intrigued with the Magiteque Pain Therapy Center.  Can you describe how the process of healing happens and what sessions look like for a patient?
 

Magiteque Therapy is an integration of both of my disciplines as a certified health coach and naturopath doctor.  Magiteque Therapy, depending on the health issue, can be done transdermally, orally or by inhalation.  It is safe for all ages and even for pregnant woman.  Clinical Magiteque Therapy starts with learning the patient’s health history followed by two hours of mineral spraying, inhalation or with an oral protocol combination.  For muscle pain, I combine trigger point techniques and energy healing.  The Magiteque Therapy concludes by taking a warm bath and then reassessing the patient’s condition.  Results are immediate.  A treatment plan can be designed after the first treatment, but in most cases is not needed. 
 

Congratulations on your new restaurant Chives Bistro and Market!  Please tell me what patrons can expect and experience.
 

If you have the palate for exquisite yet affordable food, Chives Bistro is the place to go.  Chives is a blend of Asian and European cuisine - fine dining in a casual setting.  We use nothing but freshly harvested food and no artificial flavorings.  Plus the passion our chef has for sumptuous healthy meals can really be tasted!  And I’m not just saying that because my son is the chef because I am not easily pleased when it comes to food, and the food really meets my standards.    I highly recommend that you visit us if you are ever in Manila!   

Please discuss your initiative the Community Home Substance Abuse Recovery Program or CSARP in connection to the war on drugs campaign of President Duterte.
 

Having taken the course “The Addicted Brain” at Emory University, I understand the role of electro-ionic minerals in neurotransmitters and this gave me a rare perspective especially in the Philippines.  When the war on drugs started, I began attending to addicts suffering from Substance Abuse Withdrawal Syndrome.  I had been treating similar symptoms in patients previously.  I created the “Seven Days Neuro-Detox Program” incorporating Magiteque therapy, EcoTherapy, Psychological First Aid and Positive Psychology.  Addicts have been thankful for this initiative. And I give lectures and seminars for those who want to learn more.  For my efforts, I was recognized by my hometown with the Dangal ng Pililla Award.

What's next for you in your amazing life journey?
 

Lots of things!  I am coming out with my first book, followed by “how to” booklets on the Magiteque therapy for different health issues.  Our FDA license is in process, which means we will be able to make affordable mineral sprays for the mass market soon.  This will definitely help a lot of people dealing with various pain issues, and will also fund the community healing missions we are doing.  I am beginning to focus on diabetes and would like to develop protocols to treat diabetes without the use of drugs, and then train medical professionals who are willing to learn about these protocols.  Long term, I dream about having my own well-being farm, where people can come to heal!

Marawi Siege PTSD Prevention And Care Initiative

You can learn more about the Battle of Marawi or the Marawi Siege HERE.  The battle happened in May 23, 2017 and lasted for five long months.  It's known as the longest urban battle in recent Philippine history.  

Dr. Maggie's PTDS Prevention and Care Initiative in Marawi was facilitated by Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Lipa with ArchbishopTony Ledesma of CDO and with the late Bishop Nitz Galido of Iligan to help Bishop of Marawi Edwin dela Peña.  

This is Dr. Maggie with Fr. Teresito "Chito" Soganub, the Marawi priest who was taken hostage, and who was under the care of Dr. Maggie for coaching and naturopathic treatment.

Below are some pictures during the Marawi Siege PTSD Prevention and Care Initiative.  There were trained volunteers who helped destress the Marawi IDPs.

Follow Dr. Maggie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/epigeneticsprecursors 

Email:  magiteque@gmail.com

Follow Chives Bistro Restaurant and Market on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChivesPH

“I am not a typical health coach.  I focus more on addressing health-related social issues, particularly pain management for the mind, body and spirit – a ‘human system approach’ for poor communities.”

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What Is The Role Of Health Coaches In Healthcare?

I’m Abby, a holistic health coach who graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and I’m continuing my education at Functional Nutrition. I am the founder and owner of curechoices.com.  I help people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, and weight loss. My friendship with Elaine started in 2016 when we became accountability coaches for each other as part of the IIN curriculum. I would like to thank her for giving me the opportunity to write in her blog.

Everyone has a reason why they want to choose their career.  It was my own health problems that motivated me to choose a career in holistic nutrition and wellness. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, 10 months after giving birth to my second baby. When I was diagnosed, I was not happy with the idea of getting on a prescription medication for the rest of my life. I was looking into the possibilities of curing the disease. I discovered that I had to follow a disciplined protocol where I needed to make some dietary changes, along with the supplements and exercise to address the root cause of the problem. I was mentally prepared to do whatever it took to accomplish that.  Within few months I started to feel better.  I started to see the numbers of the anti-thyroid antibodies coming down and then gradually it came down to normal range.  I was able to put my Hashimoto’s in remission. In this journey of healing my disease, it dawned on me that the most important aspect of healing any disease is taking care of yourself by getting the proper nutrition, making the appropriate lifestyle changes, getting enough physical activities, and last but not least believing in yourself.

Over the last few decades there has been a significant rise in chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and obesity. When you visit a doctor for these kinds of illnesses, doctors work primarily to identify the symptoms and treat for the symptoms. They really don’t have enough time to dig deep to find the root cause of the problem or to find what is really going on with the patient.

This is where the role of health coaches comes in.  They can step in and provide support. The main role of a holistic health coach is to guide the clients toward a healthy lifestyle.  They help them not only with food but in all areas of their life – their relationships, spirituality, exercise, and career.  They can help their clients balance these because the imbalance of one can adversely affect the other areas.

Each person is unique with their individual requirements. One person’s physiology, cell structure, metabolism, and body structure are different from another person's. Each person has unique needs according to their age, gender, size, lifestyle, blood type, and ancestry. A holistic health coach can work according to the specific needs of their clients.  They can give you recipes and diet guidelines, exercise and lifestyle changes which can help their clients to achieve optimal health goals. Health coaches educate and support their clients throughout the process of healing.

A health coach is a mentor, friend, cheerleader, and guide.  He or she can help by recommending lifestyle and behavioral changes and by challenging the client to listen to their inner wisdom, identify their inner strengths, and transform their dreams into action!

I hope you enjoyed this article and feel free to leave comments!

Website: www.curechoices.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CureChoices/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curechoices/

“A health coach is a mentor, friend, cheerleader, and guide.”

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Choice Meets Courage

Ever wish for life to slow down? Speed up? Change, but then don't. The “why is this happening right now?” feeling?  In a perfect world everyday would be filled with kindness and success right? There would never be children without food, or homeless. Families would always be thriving and happy. Our rivers and lakes would be teeming with life. The air would be clean and all races would respect and love one another. Only a few examples of course, yet when I think about this “perfect world” and even if those things, and more were the case all over the world -we would still naturally react from emotions; our human aspects exist. Somebody would still feel lonely, shed a tear from falling down, accidentally forget and burn the dinner, (you get the point), and pain and suffering would show up eventually. Somehow, the ability to appreciate all the light, all the goodness that is present, often comes hand in hand, from experiencing darkness.

Could feeling good be found in choice, and if so, what are we choosing?

Today we live in a place where we can get a lot of instant results. Push the button, search the web. Anything you do repeatedly will become habit. Even convenience. So, while knowing that goals take hard work, we hardly give them the daily effort they truly require. We convince ourselves there’s an easier way. A shortcut. Maybe an inspired moment will come and then we’ll be able to get the project done. And then a month goes by, and where are we? Same place, except not. We’ve changed, still. But in a way that’s made it more comfortable to accept the belief that we haven’t changed. That we aren’t built for the goals, or have enough resources to achieve them. This is just a perspective. I believe we are always in a process, it’s just a matter of what direction we are headed, and how we are feeling about it.

So, perhaps the world, as it is, with the good and the bad is more perfect than we ever thought it could be. And maybe the challenges throughout our day, truly do make us stronger, wiser, and more kind to the next person we meet. With this understanding I can attempt to move through my tribulations with more attitude of gratitude. And I can step forward into my troubles knowing that they are not permanent. Because like seasons, we are always shifting, changing, and given full opportunity to become more than we are at this moment.

As a Health Coach I’ve come to know that even when it looks like nothing happens in a day, and sometimes in a week, when there can be little obvious change, this is not the ultimate truth. Something is happening. Those small, maybe invisible, first steps are just as significant as the middle of the road. I am building awareness for what is changing and not only what lies at the end result. We often see the winter as cold, and long. Both true, but with every passing day, the sunlight is getting a little warmer, and the time until spring is actually becoming closer than ever before. So, perhaps a lack of success (right now) is related to becoming stuck feeling defeated, in thinking and mindset, and not fully embracing the process of evolving.

Today’s Effort is a platform where each person can take responsibility for their power, and use it to become the individual you want to be. To make the conscious effort in a direction that is ever flowing, ever changing, and be okay with that. To recognize that perfection is never stagnant, but always evolving. With each day we are given the power of choice and courage. To know this and to use these gifts are not one in the same. With my Health Coaching I strive to bring awareness and understanding to that simple difference. To feel the courage to make the choices that align with you as a whole being, then, I believe true healing takes place.

I am an advocate for health and wellness. I believe in health of the spirit as much as the body, and I know that every little effort that we make on a daily basis, will bring us closer to the life, and wellbeing which we all deserve and possess.

I encourage using a plan of daily action, which I call Today’s Effort, to achieve our intentions in life. Incorporation of daily action directed towards a purpose, can be a powerful way to embrace change. With this consistent effort I am brought a little closer to my goals, yes, but I am also a little more empowered by my strength and determination each day. I want to then follow up the next day with another small action step. This builds on itself and naturally I am drawn into my daily choices because they make me feel good. We don’t always have to experience the pain to appreciate the love. It’s there to show us the contrast, but not to last. We just have to remember to use our courage, and make the choices, in order to see and feel the change.

Today’s Effort : do something, a small action, that brings even the slightest feeling of lift to your shoulders. It can be anything that brings a smile. Maybe it's music, reading, or hobby work. Maybe it's finishing your school, or assignment on time. Choose something that you want to do because it ignites a feeling of joy. It’s in those moments, that the shift is happening.

In Joy,

Shaman

To learn more about Today’s Effort and the support a Health Coach can be for you, please visit todayseffort.com or connect with our vibe on social media @todayseffort

“And I can step forward into my troubles knowing that they are not permanent. Because like seasons, we are always shifting, changing, and given full opportunity to become more than we are in this moment.”

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My Journey Into Health Coaching And What Makes Me Passionate About Helping People

The First Shift

My first major shift in my life occurred shortly after my divorce. I would have to say, I was in the best shape of my life... so I thought. I was exercising constantly to try to help myself with all the things I was going through. I had just endured a few years of very intense constant stress. I was taking care of three children by myself. Trying to work at a very stressful 100% commission sales job. I lived in an area where I had limited support and no family. I had thought I had made it through and was maybe headed into an upswing.

On a May morning I got up from bed to let my dogs out. I was walking and all of a sudden I fell. I got up and fell again. I repeated this a few times and then I realized something was very wrong. I won't go through all the gory details I will just say I had a stroke at 40.

Once at the hospital, the doctors told me this was caused by a tear in an artery in my neck most likely caused by a severe trauma or injury.  I did not have any severe trauma or injury. Unless you count the couple of years of severe stress. Yup, that was it!

I was very lucky to be alive and with no major damage. I was told by the doctors "Take it easy". "Don't run anymore". And my personal favorite "You are a delicate flower". However, I couldn't live with any of that. I did a lot of research and it was bleak. Until I found an article about a football player who had a similar experience and went on to continue to play football. That was it! Right at that moment I stopped and decided I would go with that one positive story. I decided I loved running and continued to do so . It was very challenging in the beginning but I worked through it and ran my first 5k in December that same year!

I have run 1 Marathon, 5 Half Marathons, and 4 Ragnars ( 200 mile relay race), among many other fun races. So far I'm still kicking and still running today! The lesson I took away from this was don't take anything for granted and enjoy your life now. Not at some endpoint you're going to reach. I get caught up in life just like everyone else but I always bring myself back to a balanced place and I continue to learn more about being successful living on purpose!

The Second Shift

My second major shift was in 2013-2014 when my mom became ill. In a matter of two months she went from being a vivacious lively woman to being gone. She had passed away from cancer. Apparently it was so metastasized that there was not really anything they could do. While my family had some time to prepare it was unbearable to watch this happen. I felt very frustrated and helpless.

My Call To Action

These events created a call to action in my life. I was watching family members and friends struggle with auto immune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and weight gain. I myself struggled with stress, acne, and added weight around my midsection. Many of these issues are shared with the majority of the population including children. I decided I needed to figure out a plan to improve my odds, stay healthy, and help others do the same! My lesson from all these events in my life led me to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to get certified as a Health and Wellness Coach. This is where I learned the concept of primary food and secondary food. Primary Food is your physical activity, health, education, career, finances, creativity, spirituality, joy, social life, relationships, home environment, and home cooking. Secondary food is your nutrition. You need to create balance between all these things in order to live a healthy life. This is where I come in. During my health coaching sessions I will help you achieve this step by step!

How I Work With People

I like to follow a plant based (vegan) whole food diet. I stress whole food meaning real food because in this day and age a large part of the population does not eat real food. People ask me all the time, "Do I have to be vegan to work with you?" The answer is no, absolutely not. We are all different and our bodies need different things. It's best to learn what works for you personally. Do I push veggies on people? Definitely! :)

Because of my background I plan on specializing in working with busy women helping them de-stress, unplug, focus on self-care, get rid of those extra pounds, and create health and balance for themselves and their families. I can't stress how important it is to take care of yourself so that you can take of the people you love and enjoy your life.  Are you ready to take back your health and freedom to live a balanced full life? Are you ready to live on purpose?

I continue to love to share everything that has worked for me and strive to find the best things for everyone on their path to a Healthy Balanced Life! 

Take care of you,

Xo

Tina Stinson

Healthy Balanced Living

www.tinastinson.com

“The lesson I took away from this was don’t take anything for granted and enjoy your life now. Not at some endpoint you’re going to reach. I get caught up in life just like everyone else but I always bring myself back to a balanced place and I continue to learn more about being successful living on purpose!”

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Spreading Joy And Love Through Painting And Health Coaching

Hello from my small country of Lebanon!  I am Lulu, painter and wellness advocate, following my passion for painting to wellness synchronizing my education, knowledge, and experience, trying to spread joy and love.

Throughout my life I have suffered several health issues which mainly were related to digestive irregularities.  I knew there was a misdiagnosis in my case.  I began searching and researching following my curiosity to know the root cause.  Never by any chance did it occur to me that I would someday study holistic health coaching.  It was as if all the pieces just fell into their places and the big white canvas became a complete painted artwork.  The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) not only gave me the knowledge but expanded my perspective.  Becoming a wellness advocate and counselor was tantamount to being a creative artist (my original specialty).

Lebanon went through a very destructive civil war during the mid-seventies till 1990.  It was devastating.  It ruined and wounded Lebanese.  I studied fine arts under bombardment and explosions.  There was no water and no electricity but life went on.  I even earned a scholarship to pursue my masters in Italy.  Working, living, and surviving every day was always a challenge.  Even after the war ended there was always the realization that civil war could break out again. 

My education was enhanced by the introduction of essential oils and energy healing.  My exploration of integrating all-natural foods and herbs helped to restore my body, mind, and spirit, resulting in more of a state of peace and gratitude.  Art and painting were my antidotes to the poisonous, negative thoughts of war and hatred.  Through my art, I colored my life to be the grateful person I am now. 

Artwork By Lulu Baassiri

Black Magic Woman 100x100 oil on canvas 1993.  Exhibited in Washington, DC in 2012.

Sunflower 60x80 pastel on velour 2011.

102x82cm pastel on velour paper 2011.

Mosaic With Mixed Media.  110x110 real Venetian mosaic 2000 - 2001.

Red Rose 70x62 pastel on velour paper 2011.

“Never by any chance did it occur to me that I would someday study holistic health coaching. It was as if all the pieces just fell into their places and the big white canvas became a complete painted artwork.”

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Do You Want To Live Or Do You Want To Thrive?

Do you want to live or do you want to thrive?  This was the question I asked myself so many times! 

Hi!  My name is Jurgita Caballero and I am an IIN Certified Holistic Health Coach and a student at The School of Applied Functional Medicine and The Institute for Functional Health Coaching. 

My interest in a healthy lifestyle started about 16 years ago.  But it really took a turn about four years ago when I lost my beautiful mother, my best friend, to cancer.  I wanted to know why people are getting sick so much more than ever?  What is causing it?  What are we missing? What are we not doing right?

I had many health issues growing up.  I was on a prescription antibiotic for seven years since my birth.  At one point in my life, I was more than 40 pounds overweight.  It took me years of trial and error, but thankfully it has been more than 15 years that I am at my healthy weight. 

I know what it feels to be hopeless.  When you are not feeling well and no one can give you any answers, and you can’t enjoy your life to the fullest, it stinks! 

People often ask me what do I eat, what do I do to keep my weight in balance and stay healthy.

I say, it doesn’t really matter, because in reality what had worked for me, might not work for another person. That’s BIOINDIVIDUALITY. The secret is to discover what works for that unique body.

Becoming educated in the field of functional medicine gave me an opportunity to really dive deep in understanding how all our body parts, glands, organs, hormones work together.  There are no islands.  Everything is interconnected.  No one way of eating or lifestyle works for everyone. 

My passion is helping people to find what works for them, identify the triggers that are in their way for maximum wellness, and help them to change it at the pace that feels comfortable for them. 

We are so used to popping a pill to numb our pain, without realizing that the body is sending us signals that it needs our attention.  By ignoring those symptoms, we are only promoting the diagnoses of some sort of ailment or disease in the long run. 

It doesn’t have to be that way.  I coach people to learn to listen to their bodies and address these symptoms by getting to the true root cause of the problem.

How do we do that?

Maximize what their unique body needs (food, sleep, raw materials your body needs to function optimally, oxygen, water).

Minimize what their unique body struggles with (toxins, infections, allergens, stress, trauma, limiting beliefs, fear, negative expectations).

Prioritize and create an environment for healing for this unique person (sleep, rest, laughter, stress reduction, exercise, stretching, breathing, meaningful relationships).

My goal is to Educate, Inspire, and Empower people to own their wellness!  True health starts with us when we decide to be well!  

Do you want to know how a healthy body feels like?  Then let me help you!

Thank you,

Jurgita

www.JurgitaCaballero.com

www.LivingAnAbundantLife.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivinganAbundantLife365/

“Do you want to live or do you want to thrive?”

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Set The World On Fire

In fall of 1994 I was among the students of the incoming freshmen class at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The freshmen class was gathered at William and Mary Hall for the convocation.  One of the speakers told us to look at the person on our left and then on our right.  The speaker went on to say that our class was among the brightest incoming classes ever.  I forget the percentage but it was something like 90 percent of my class were either salutatorians or valedictorians of their graduating high school class.  More importantly, the speaker passed on some very smart advice to us young men and women that every college student should take to heart.  He said, "Take classes that interest you.  If you've never taken a kinesiology class or a philosophy class take it.  Major in what you want to major in.  Not what your parents or your brother or sister want.  Major in what you want."

I did graduate from The College of William and Mary in four years and I'm very proud of that.  But I did not major in what my parents had planned for me.  They had hoped that I would choose a career path just like my late paternal grandfather, Pastor Fabunan, who was an accountant.  The truth was that the economics and business courses were not meant for me.  Yeah, they definitely were NOT meant for me!  I struggled and I humbly withdrew from or failed a couple of those classes.  Instead I majored in Spanish.  Why?  In my junior year I took a hard look at my grades and immediately noticed that my best grades were from my modern language classes.  At the time I loved immersing myself in the romance languages and I excelled in them especially Spanish.  There was also pressure from my mom to complete my studies in four years so a BA in Spanish it was! 

And this is true for much of life.  By pretending to be something that we are not we can never be happy or be true to ourselves.  Life will always be an upward struggle.  I love this quotation by Saint Catherine of Siena:  "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."  Life is so short.  Why pretend or delve into misery, right?  

For about 12 years of my young professional life I was a banker for large and small banks and I did pretty well for myself.  The problem was that I pushed myself at work and I never really loved it.  I pushed myself to the limit working extremely late hours and even on the weekends.  I liked certain aspects of bank management like leading, coaching, and encouraging my team members but deep down inside I was never completely happy or satisfied.   

What changed for me?  I got married to a wonderful man and we had a beautiful baby boy.  But then my health spiraled downward and I hit rock bottom to the point of being bedridden.

Eventually I found the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and in a year I became a certified integrative nutrition health coach.  I utilized the knowledge that I learned from IIN and thankfully I started to heal my condition.  I was so intrigued with the use of food as medicine that I continued my education taking an alternative healing course.  I then used that education to help myself completely heal and my own family heal their conditions ranging from eczema, food sensitivities, high blood pressure, and heart burn.  I continue to take holistic health courses because of my passion in helping others heal their own conditions.  And, yes, since I've found my calling I want to set the world on fire!

I believe that any disease or ailment can be reversed.  Anyone can heal with the right foods, mindset, and proper rest.  That's the beauty of working with a health coach especially an integrative nutrition health coach.  We health coaches are trained to really listen to our clients and help them heal on a deep physical, emotional, and spiritual level.  

I love the flexibility that I am allowed.  I am able to be the kind of wife, homeschooling mom, blogger, and integrative nutrition health coach that I want to be.  Thanks be to God, my faith and family will always come first but I have found a wondrous joy in health coaching and there is nothing else I'd rather be doing.  Find your truth, your voice, and your purpose, and you will set the world on fire.  And after that there is no going back!

For A Healthy And Happy 2018

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““Take classes that interest you.  If you’ve never taken a kinesiology class or a philosophy class take it.  Major in what you want to major in.  Not what your parents or your brother or sister want.  Major in what you want.””

“I love this quotation by Saint Catherine of Siena:  ’Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.’”

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